What solution for £200~?

Viper² · 17 Aug 2008 at 18:46

Hi. I'm looking to spend around that figure (maybe more). I have an Asus Maximus Formula - Crossfire enabled, also Q6600 and 4gb memory. 1680x1050 resolution.

Are 2 4850's better than say 1 9800GX2, 4870 or GTX280 at this resolution? These are probably my 4 options. I'm leaning towards the nVidia cards but seeing as I have a CF mobo, I should take advantage?

Cheers guys.

TheCenturion · 17 Aug 2008 at 18:59

a 260 or a 4870, or maybe 2 4850s for that res. imho the 260 is as good a buy as the 4870, but the 4850s might be better, the only problem is crossfire drivers are'nt always up to standards with certain games

TheRealDeal · 17 Aug 2008 at 19:11

Crossfire 4850's is the fastest of all those setups.

LoadsaMoney · 17 Aug 2008 at 19:11

Pointless going crossfire with 2x 4850's at that res when even a single one will handle it fine, but seen as you have around £200, id get the 4870.

mda96bjh · 17 Aug 2008 at 19:19

the 280 GTX for £244

TheCenturion · 17 Aug 2008 at 19:24

mda96bjh said:
the 280 GTX for £244

overkill

Skyboat · 17 Aug 2008 at 19:26

+1 for the 4870. I'm currently running @ 1680x1050 myself

LoadsaMoney · 17 Aug 2008 at 19:30

anant_shah94 said:
overkill

Plus its not worth the extra £75 over the 4870 as its not much faster.

Viper² · 17 Aug 2008 at 19:34

So it looks like 4870 is the majority. Thanks a lot.

mda96bjh · 17 Aug 2008 at 19:37

anant_shah94 said:
overkill

hehe

there's no such thing as overkill!!

There is a law of diminishing returns in PC parts but if the extra £75 is the difference between playable framerate & a slideshow then its worth it

Montegue · 17 Aug 2008 at 19:39

mda96bjh said:
the 280 GTX for £244

anant_shah94 said:
overkill

I bet there has been tons of folk that bought the 280 with similar specs to the OP, purely just to have the fastest card on the market at the time.
Plus if the 280 is overkill then surely the 4870 is too.

Skyboat said:
+1 for the 4870. I'm currently running @ 1680x1050 myself

My opinion, get which ever one you wish mda96bjh, overkill or not you have plenty room to spare for new titles in the future.

rounddodger · 17 Aug 2008 at 19:49

If your limit is 200 squids then go for the 4870, but (IMO) the 280 is worth the extra few quid esp with the free postage now at OcUK!

TheCenturion · 17 Aug 2008 at 20:39

The advantage of having a 4870 over a 280 is that in 2 or three years time, if he needs a performance boost, he can just grab another for cf, at a relatively cheap price

Talrinys · 17 Aug 2008 at 21:04

anant_shah94 said:
The advantage of having a 4870 over a 280 is that in 2 or three years time, if he needs a performance boost, he can just grab another for cf, at a relatively cheap price

Which will not support any standards and won't be available except for 2nd hand year old purchases. The point in CF/SLI is buying it immediately or before a long time has passed, no point in getting a new card for CF in 3 years when even a 40£ card can outrun those 2 at that point.

Viper² · 17 Aug 2008 at 21:39

If I got another card, it would probably be in 1+ years time. But by then, as Talrinys has pointed out, there is no point buying another 4870 when a cheap card will beat it on its own.

So, it is simply 9800GX2 v 4870 v GTX280 really. Will be much point getting the 280 with the resolution I'm using though? I'll read up about these 3, but I read on here that the 9800 is better than the 280? They are all roughly the same price.

I'm still pretty undecided to be honest, and will be taking a trip to OcUK tomorrow, so I might even have to decide in the shop.

dr. sarf · 17 Aug 2008 at 21:40

LoadsaMoney said:
Id get the 4870.

Same here.

TheCenturion · 17 Aug 2008 at 21:48

Then maybe you could wait for the 5nm gtx 200's, there may be a small price drop for other cards

Viper² · 17 Aug 2008 at 21:57

anant_shah94 said:
Then maybe you could wait for the 5nm gtx 200's, there may be a small price drop for other cards

What other cards? When the 5nm's come out, surely they will be above my budget? And the only card that is out of my budget is the X2.

Viper² · 17 Aug 2008 at 22:07

Sorry for double post. Have decided on the 4870. Cheers guys.

Skyboat · 17 Aug 2008 at 22:26

Viper² said:
What other cards? When the 5nm's come out, surely they will be above my budget? And the only card that is out of my budget is the X2.

He means the older 65nm GTX 260/280 versions will drop in price and therefore be more affordable

But anyway, the 4870 is a solid choice. Just wish ATI got rid of their silly CCC.